Yobuko weekend itinerary
- Leave Fukuoka City by car at 8:00: Yobuko Morning Market, Kawataro live squid, Hado Cape, Momoyama Tenkaichi, Karatsu Castle, and an onsen.
- The live squid sashimi set meal at Kawataro Yobuko costs ¥3,850, with no reservations and cash payment.
- Admission to Genkai Underwater Observation Tower is ¥1,000 for adults, and Karatsu Castle keep is ¥500 for general admission.
Updated October 21, 2026: route for Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25.
No plans or reservations for this weekend yet? Leave central Fukuoka by car at 8:00 a.m., follow this order, and your day is set.
In one day, you can visit Yobuko Morning Market, eat live squid sashimi, and explore Genkai Underwater Observation Tower at Hado Cape. Continue to Karatsu Castle, Niji no Matsubara, Kagamiyama and a day-use hot spring at the mountain’s foot. The lunch restaurant takes no reservations, so this route gets you there for its 10:00 a.m. opening. Finish with a bath and return to Fukuoka City around 7:30 p.m.; driving times are approximate.
In short
- The morning market stays open until 12:00 p.m. Keep snacks light, as a squid set meal comes later.
- To buy fish to take home, stop at Marine Center Osakana Mura in Hamatama before the hot spring. It closes at 6:00 p.m. An insulated cooler bag is handy.
- The Karatsu Autumn Stamp Rally runs through November 1. Three of its 6 stops lie along this route: Genkai Underwater Observation Tower, Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi and Karatsu Castle.
Checked with official pages on October 21, 2026.
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Leave Fukuoka City at 8:00 a.m.: Yobuko and Karatsu itinerary for October 24 and 25
Leave Fukuoka City at 8:00 a.m., reach Yobuko Morning Market around 9:15 a.m., and eat live squid sashimi at 10:00 a.m. Visit Karatsu Castle at 1:45 p.m., bathe at Kagamiyama at 5:15 p.m., and return to Fukuoka City around 7:30 p.m. This order works without reservations on either Saturday or Sunday.
| Time | Where | What to do | Next stop (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Fukuoka City | Take the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway toward Karatsu and Yobuko | About 70–80 minutes by car to Yobuko |
| 9:15 | Yobuko Morning Market | Walk along the market street and have a light snack | About 5 minutes by car to Kawataro |
| 10:00 | Live squid sashimi at Kawataro Yobuko | Live squid sashimi set meal (¥3,850). No reservations; cash only | About 10–15 minutes by car to Hado Cape |
| 11:30 | Hado Cape and Genkai Underwater Observation Tower | Walk around the cape and enter the underwater tower (adults ¥1,000). Pick up a stamp rally sheet | About 5 minutes by car to Momoyama Tenkaichi |
| 12:50 | Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi | Browse vegetables and shelf-stable souvenirs (save fish shopping for later) | About 25 minutes by car to Karatsu Castle |
| 13:45 | Karatsu Castle | Climb the castle keep (general admission ¥500) | About 5–10 minutes by car to Niji no Matsubara |
| 15:15 | Niji no Matsubara and Karatsu Burger | Take a short walk through the pines and have a burger | About 10–15 minutes by car to Kagamiyama’s observation deck |
| 16:00 | Kagamiyama’s observation deck | View Niji no Matsubara and Karatsu Bay from above | About 10 minutes by car to Osakana Mura |
| 16:45 | Marine Center Osakana Mura | Buy fish for dinner (open until 6:00 p.m.) | About 5 minutes by car to Bijin no Yu |
| 17:15 | Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu | Take a bath (adults ¥700 from 5:00 p.m.) | About 50–60 minutes by car to Fukuoka City |
| 19:30 | Fukuoka City | Arrive back | (Arrival) |
| Sat–Sun | Side trip: Karatsu Autumn Stamp Rally | Collect stamps at the tower, Momoyama Tenkaichi and Karatsu Castle (through November 1) | Fits into the route. Exchange prizes at Momoyama Tenkaichi or Arpino near Karatsu Station |
Driving times combine road-map route calculations with allowances for traffic lights and congestion. Times to and from Fukuoka City use Chuo Ward as the starting point, so they vary with your departure location.
Sources: each facility’s official website and the Karatsu Tourism Association (checked October 21, 2026).
Side trips for this weekend, October 24 and 25
The Karatsu Autumn Stamp Rally runs through Sunday, November 1. Collect stamps along this route at Genkai Underwater Observation Tower, Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi and Karatsu Castle. There are 6 stops; the others are Genkai Minaton Sato, Former Karatsu Bank and Furusato Kaikan Arpino. Pick up a stamp sheet at Karatsu Castle or Genkai Underwater Observation Tower. Collect the required number of stamps for participation gifts and entry into a draw for local Karatsu products. Exchange prizes at Furusato Kaikan Arpino or Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi (Karatsu Tourism Association: Karatsu Autumn Stamp Rally).
On Sunday, October 25, the Imari Tontenton river plunge takes place in Imari City from 5:32 p.m.
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Yobuko Morning Market: 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; keep snacks light before lunch
After leaving at 8:00 a.m., you may feel a little hungry by the time you reach Yobuko.
Yobuko Morning Market opens daily except New Year’s Day, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Stalls along the market street sell seafood, dried fish, vegetables, fruit, pickles and sweets, with opening times varying by stall. Live squid sashimi follows at 10:00 a.m., so a light snack leaves room for the set meal.
The free Yobuko Morning Market parking lot holds 29 passenger cars. The paid Yobuko Rinko parking lot holds 128 passenger cars and costs ¥100 for up to 1 hour. If the market lot is full, use the Rinko lot (Karatsu Tourism Association: Yobuko Morning Market).
| Name | Yobuko Morning Market |
|---|---|
| Address | Asaichi-dori, Yobuko, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | 7:30–12:00 (opening times vary by stall. Closed January 1) |
| Phone | 0955-82-3426 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Live squid sashimi at Kawataro Yobuko: no reservations, cash only
Keep your market snacks light and wait for the 10:00 a.m. opening.
Kawataro Yobuko opens at 10:00 a.m. on weekends and public holidays, generally takes no reservations, and accepts cash only. Kawataro began in 1961, when its founder prepared freshly caught spear squid aboard a Yobuko fisherman’s boat. It calls itself the birthplace of live squid sashimi and says it opened Japan’s first live-tank seafood restaurant (Kawataro Yobuko’s website: the founding story). It is one of Yobuko’s renowned restaurants and appears in the Karatsu Tourism Association’s dining guide.
The live squid sashimi set costs ¥3,850 including tax. It includes live squid sashimi, squid tempura, squid shumai, clear soup, miso soup, pickles, rice and dessert. After the sashimi, the tentacles come out as tempura; a lighter option is the squid rice bowl for ¥1,500 (Kawataro Yobuko’s official menu). Squid varieties change with the season, and the restaurant’s October 13 X post identified that day’s squid as spear squid.
Weather can prevent squid deliveries, and supplies or crowds may lead the restaurant to bring forward its last entry time. It posts opening, closing and waiting-time updates on X (@kawatarou_ybk). Free parking holds 50 cars (Kawataro Yobuko’s official shop information).
Underwater Restaurant Manbou plans to reopen aboard a new vessel on Monday, November 16 (Manbou’s October 15, 2026 announcement, PDF).
| Name | Kawataro Yobuko |
|---|---|
| Address | 1744-17 Yobuko, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | Mon–Fri 11:00–17:00 (last order 16:00, last entry 15:30), Sat, Sun & public holidays 10:00–19:00 (last order 18:00, last entry 17:30). Closed during Obon and New Year holidays |
| Phone | 0955-82-3208 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Genkai Underwater Observation Tower at Hado Cape: adults ¥1,000, open until 5:00 p.m. in October
After a filling squid meal, how about some sea air at the cape?
Hado Cape, about 10–15 minutes by car from Kawataro, is Kyushu’s northwesternmost cape. Genkai Underwater Observation Tower opens from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from October through March; admission is ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for elementary and junior high school students. The cape lies within Genkai Quasi-National Park and is among Japan’s 100 Selected Beaches. You can walk around freely, and parking is free except in some areas (Karatsu Tourism Association: Hado Cape).
An 86m pier connects Genkai Underwater Observation Tower to land. Its underwater room sits 7m below the surface, with 24 windows for watching around 30 fish species. It opens year-round but may close during severe weather (Genkai Underwater Observation Tower: hours and admission). You can pick up a stamp rally sheet here.
Stalls at the cape serve its specialty, turban shells grilled in their shells, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In winter, they may close around 4:00 p.m. (Karatsu Tourism Association: grilled turban shell stalls).
| Name | Genkai Underwater Observation Tower |
|---|---|
| Address | 1628-1 Hado, Chinzei-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | October–March 9:00–17:00, April–September 9:00–18:00. Open year-round (may close during severe weather) |
| Phone | 090-3464-5337 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Vegetables and shelf-stable souvenirs at Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi
After walking around the cape, browse some vegetables and souvenirs to take home.
Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi is about 5 minutes by car from Hado Cape. The produce section opens at 7:30 a.m., and the local products hall opens at 9:00 a.m.; both close at 6:00 p.m. Near Nagoya Castle Ruins, it brings together local specialties and has parking for 100 passenger cars (Karatsu Tourism Association: Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi).
With around 6 hours until you get home, this route saves fish and other perishables for Osakana Mura later. Momoyama Tenkaichi is both a stamp rally stop and a prize exchange location.
| Name | Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi |
|---|---|
| Address | 1859 Nagoya, Chinzei-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | Produce section 7:30–18:00, local products hall 9:00–18:00. Closed January 1–3 |
| Phone | 0955-51-1051 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
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Karatsu Castle keep: general admission ¥500, last entry at 4:40 p.m.
Back in Karatsu, how about climbing up to the castle overlooking the sea?
Karatsu Castle keep opens from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:40 p.m. General admission is ¥500; elementary and junior high school students pay ¥250. Inside, a local history museum displays Karatsu Domain materials and Karatsu pottery (Karatsu Castle’s website: About Karatsu Castle). The Maizuru Park elevator costs ¥100 one way for general admission; Higashijonai parking holds 190 passenger cars and costs ¥100 for up to 1 hour (Karatsu Tourism Association: Karatsu Castle).
Karatsu Castle also distributes stamp rally sheets.
| Name | Karatsu Castle |
|---|---|
| Address | 8-1 Higashijonai, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:40). Closed December 29–31 |
| Phone | 0955-72-5697 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Karatsu Burger in Niji no Matsubara: selected for Tabelog’s 100 Burger Restaurants 3 times
After the castle, how about a burger break among the pines?
Karatsu Burger Niji no Matsubara Main Store made Tabelog’s 100 Burger Restaurants list in 2019, 2021 and 2024. Its Special Burger costs ¥710 including tax. The business describes itself as a burger shop with over 50 years of history, based in Niji no Matsubara. Look for its red retro bus (Karatsu Burger’s website). It closes when sold out and accepts cash only (Karatsu Burger’s official website: Niji no Matsubara Main Store).
If the main store has sold out, another option is Karatsu Burger Nakamachi Store, 350m from Karatsu Station. It opens from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and has no parking (Karatsu Burger’s official website: Nakamachi Store).
Niji no Matsubara stretches about 4.5km along Karatsu Bay, with around 1 million pine trees across a width of about 500m. It is one of Japan’s three great pine groves and a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Free parking holds 135 cars, and JR Niji no Matsubara Station on the Chikuhi Line is nearby (Karatsu Tourism Association: Niji no Matsubara).
| Name | Karatsu Burger Niji no Matsubara Main Store |
|---|---|
| Address | Niji no Matsubara, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–20:00 (closes when sold out). Open year-round |
| Phone | 0955-56-7119 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Look down over Niji no Matsubara from Kagamiyama’s observation deck, 284m above sea level
After your break, how about seeing the pine grove you just walked through from above?
Kagamiyama rises 284m in eastern Karatsu City, with summit observation decks overlooking Niji no Matsubara, central Karatsu and Karatsu Bay. Parking is available, and the drive takes about 15 minutes from JR Higashi-Karatsu Station or Karatsu Interchange on the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway (Karatsu Tourism Association: Kagamiyama). Allow about 10–15 minutes by car from Karatsu Burger.
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Buy fish at Marine Center Osakana Mura before the hot spring
Before your bath, how about picking up some fish for dinner?
Marine Center Osakana Mura in Hamatama-cho opens from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is about 10 minutes by car from Kagamiyama’s observation deck and about 5 minutes from Bijin no Yu. These hours come from the shop information on Marine Center Osakana Mura’s online store. Some guides list a 5:00 p.m. closing time, so this route stops here before the bath.
The fish you buy will stay in the car while you bathe, so bring an insulated cooler bag and ice packs.
| Name | Marine Center Osakana Mura |
|---|---|
| Address | 1922 Hamasaki, Hamatama-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–18:00 |
| Phone | 0955-56-2200 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu: adults ¥800, or ¥700 from 5:00 p.m.
After working up a sweat walking, take a bath before heading home.
Admission to Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu is ¥800 for adults and ¥450 for children aged 2 through elementary school. From 5:00 p.m., adults pay ¥700 and children pay ¥400. Spring water flows from 1,600m underground into the baths, with some filtration and recirculation. Facilities include an outdoor bath, sauna and restaurant (Karatsu Tourism Association: Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu).
Bathing runs until 10:00 p.m., with last entry at 9:30 p.m.; depending on usage, closing may be 30 minutes–1 hour earlier. It closes on the third Thursday each month, except public holidays, and opens this weekend. Parking holds 50 cars, and credit cards are not accepted. JR Niji no Matsubara Station is about 8 minutes away on foot (Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu’s website: facility information).
Leave the baths around 6:30 p.m. for the roughly 50–60-minute drive to Fukuoka City, arriving around 7:30 p.m.
| Name | Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu |
|---|---|
| Address | 4733 Kagami, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | 10:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30). Closed third Thursday of each month (open on public holidays), December 31 |
| Phone | 0955-70-6333 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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More weekend day trips from Fukuoka
- Itoshima day trip: café, oyster hut, hike, onsen and farm market
- Asakura day trip: ramen, persimmon picking, onsen and udon
- Dazaifu day trip: shrines, mochi, museum and onsen
- Tosu and Ogori day trip: outlets, ramen, onsen and Costco
- Munakata and Fukutsu day trip: shrines, fish, pines and onsen
Sources
23 pages we checked
- Kawataro Yobuko: Homepage
- Kawataro Yobuko: Menu
- Kawataro Yobuko: Shop information and access
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Kawataro Yobuko
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Yobuko Morning Market
- Manbou: Underwater Restaurant Manbou reopening announcement (PDF)
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Hado Cape
- Genkai Underwater Observation Tower: Homepage
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Grilled turban shell stalls
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Roadside Station Momoyama Tenkaichi
- Karatsu Castle: Homepage
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Karatsu Castle
- Karatsu Burger: Homepage
- Karatsu Burger: Niji no Matsubara Main Store
- Karatsu Burger: Nakamachi Store
- Tabelog: 100 Burger Restaurants 2024
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Niji no Matsubara
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Kagamiyama
- Marine Center Osakana Mura: Online store shop information
- Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu: Facility information
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Kagamiyama Onsen Chaya Bijin no Yu
- Karatsu Tourism Association: Karatsu Autumn Stamp Rally
- Imari City: Imari Autumn Festival 2026
Checked on October 21, 2026 (Japan time).
